Community comes together to help Tubbs Fire victims

From volunteers donating food, clothing, time, energy for fire victims - to friends cooking for firefighters, Sonoma County community is supporting each other through this crisis.

NEXTDOOR is both useful and full of rumors and misinformation, so people are finding ways to cull what's real from what's not. Throughout this crisis, information channels have been a mix of horror stories and alerts to keep people on their toes and ready to evacuate if needed. The hardest part has been trying to decipher what is real and therefore worthy of action, and what is fear and conjecture.

NIXLE has been a valuable source for people. Alerts were sketchy at first, but as emergency services organized, this community service the reliable place to learn about evacuations, road closures, and links to more information. local.nixle.com/sonoma-county-sheriffs-office

FIREFIGHTERS from across the county have been deployed to areas far from their home bases since fires are raging up and down the state. Every firefighter available is working long shifts with short breaks, Normally the red Cross feeds our firefighters, but they have been overwhelmed and are relying more and more on families and friends to prepare meals. Fire and Emergency Services Department

REDWOOD CREDIT UNIONset up a community fund to give people a place to send money that can then be distributed to people as they find the path to recovery. More of these fund and community services will be needed as people are allowed to come home to what is left of their belongings they could not take with them.

EMERGENCY SHELTERS have been set up across the county but not everyone is comfortable going to one. Many ave friends and families they have gone to stay with, some have taken advantage of Air BNB's emergency housing, and many have gone to campground on the coast where the air is clear and they can calm down to get their bearings. Of note - emergency shelters were clear that they are NOT checking the immigration status of people coming for shelter to alleviate fears fro some that this disaster could be the beginning of another disaster in their personal lives. http://sonomacounty.ca.gov/Public-Safety/Santa-Rosa-Fire-Evacuations/

Ways YOU can HELP:

The Redwood Empire Food Bank needs Donations and Volunteers to assist with Fire Relief Efforts. Financial donations can be made through the REFB website at refb.org. Non-perishable and ready-to-eat food donations can be dropped off at 3990 Brickway Blvd, in Santa Rosa. Please do not bring any glass containers. Volunteers are also urgently needed, please visit www.refb.org for info.